Disney-owned channels, including ABC and ESPN, have been removed from YouTube TV following a failure to renew their carriage agreement. The blackout began at midnight ET on Friday, as negotiations for a new deal between YouTube TV and Disney stalled.
This disruption could affect viewers' access to major sporting events such as college football, NBA, NFL, and NHL games. Other impacted channels include FX, the Disney Channel, and Nat Geo.
YouTube stated in a blog post that Disney employed the threat of a blackout as a negotiating tactic to impose higher prices on customers, and is now following through with their threat. YouTube claims they have been negotiating in good faith to reach a fair deal, but Disney's proposed terms would increase costs for YouTube TV subscribers and benefit Disney's own streaming services like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo.
YouTube TV, which has over 10 million subscribers, offered a $20 credit to subscribers if the Disney channels remain unavailable for an extended period. The base subscription for YouTube TV costs $82.99 per month.
Disney countered by asserting that YouTube TV is seeking more favorable terms than those negotiated with other major distributors like Comcast and Charter. A Disney statement indicated that YouTube TV's refusal to pay standard rates for their channels will leave subscribers without access to their programming, which features a significant lineup of live sports.
Disney also alleged that Google, with its substantial market capitalization, is leveraging its dominant position to stifle competition and undermine industry-standard agreements.
This is not the first such dispute between Disney and Google; a similar blackout was resolved in December 2021 after two days. More recently, in August 2025, YouTube TV and FOX reached a temporary agreement to avoid a blackout before finalizing a comprehensive deal.
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